Label applying apparatus

ABSTRACT

Labels are separated from a strip and charged with static electricity upon separation. The labels are supplied to articles by utilizing static electricity and label adhesion while the adhesive layer surface of the label is directed outwardly. By application of the labels to the articles, the indications printed on the adhesive layer surface of the label or the surface of the articles to be labelled are protected by the label. Thus the layer of printing is prevented from stain and fabrication and indelibility thereof may be obtained.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to a label applying apparatus, and moreparticularly to a label applying apparatus of the type capable ofprinting adhered sides of labels or objects with a lot number, aneffective date and a production data and further, interposing a layer tobe printed between the label and the object.

Background Art

A dry printer (hot stamp) has been heretofore used to apply a lotnumber, production date, etc, to articles. This machine is arranged totransfer gold leaf to the articles by heat and thus incorporatesinherent deficiencies in that the printing speed is reduced to less thanhalf as compared with a situation where the articles are printed in inkand further, the characters, letters, etc., do not reproduce well due tolack of moisture. In the prior art printing, the labels or the objectitself are printed so that indicia such as a lot number and/orproduction date thereon may be delible. They are thus susceptible toalteration. However, especially for pharmaceuticals, manufacturers arerequired to print such indications so as to render them indelible orunalterable.

Therefore, an improved labelling process and apparatus has long beendesired.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to providea label applying method and apparatus by which the articles are printedwith better results without decreasing the applying speed and whichprevents indicia on labels from being altered.

Another object of the invention is to provide a label applying apparatuswhich affords higher reliability of label separation from a strip andapplication of the labels to the articles.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the present invention, a plurality of labels whichtemporarily and independently adhere to a strip on an elongated carriermeans are successively peeled from the strip.

In this separation, the labels are charged with static electricity. Thisstatic electricity contributes to the turning over and separation of thelabels when fed to the next station such as the label applying meanswith adhered surfaces thereof directed outwardly. Further, in accordancewith the present invention, the labels are applied to the objects to belabelled or the articles in such a manner that a layer to be printed maybe interposed between the adhered surfaces of the labels and thearticles so that printed characters, letters and patterns or the like onthe labels are distinctly maintained to make alteration of suchindications impossible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general schematic representation illustrating an overallarrangement of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of elongated carrier means used in theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the essential parts of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic views illustrating the manner in which apressure lever is actuated;

FIG. 6 is a general schematic view illustrating an overall arrangementof an apparatus of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the relation between a separatorroller and labels with parts broken away; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a further embodiment ofthe present invention with parts broken away.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading the following description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals are used todesignate like parts.

Numeral 1 designates a supply roll for supplying labels 5 which areadapted to be peeled off from a strip 3 such as a plastic sheet ofpolyester and the like in a path from the supply roll 1 to a take-uproll 6 for winding the strip thereon.

Numeral 9 is a rotary shaft for the take-up roll 6 to which rotation isimparted by a drive shaft 21 as will be described hereinafter via arubber belt 9B (FIG. 3). It is noted that during operation of brakerolls 7A, 7B elongated carrier means 2 is not wound on the take-up roll6 due to slippage of the rubber belt 9B on the rotary shaft 9. In apreferred embodiment, each of the labels 5 is made of a transparentplastic polyester sheet and the like and is temporarily attached by theadhesive layer 4 of acrylic emulsion type to the strip 3. It issufficient to disconnect a series of labels 5 by cut-off lines S, but,however, there is no need to space the labels apart at a distance.Elongated carrier means 2 is supplied by the brake rolls 7A, 7B to aseparation station 8. These brake rolls 7A, 7B are driven by pressingone against the other. The time for permitting the travel of carriermeans 2 is the period between the separation of the labels 5 and theprojection of the next labels 5.

Carrier means 2 when led to the separation station 8 is pressed againsta silicon rubber surface 15 on separator roll 14 by means of pressurerolls 12, 13 formed on a pressure lever 10 rotatable about a pivot shaft11, thereby separating the labels 5 from the strip 3 in such a manner aswill be described hereinafter, referring to FIG. 3.

Rotation of a drive motor (not shown) is transmitted by a drive belt 20to a drive shaft 21 of the separator roller 14. Numeral 22 designates adrive gear which is mounted on the drive shaft 21 and serves to furtherimpart rotation to the other component. As schematically shown in thedrawing, the drive gear 22 is adapted to impart its rotation to a driveshaft for a printing roller 23, being provided with printing type, atsurface speeds four times that of the sepatator roller 14. Referencenumeral 24 is a timing cam which is disposed coaxially with the drivegear 22 and includes four arcuate recesses 25 regularly spaced from eachother on the periphery of the cam.

A cam lever 26 is secured to the other end of the pivot shaft 11 bywhich the pressure lever 10 is rotated. The cam lever 26 is formed atits one end with a roller 27 in engagement with the periphery of thetiming cam 24. An actuator bar 30 extends upwardly from the cam lever 26and mounts a spring 32 trained against another bar 31 to apply aclockwise (viewed in FIG. 3) turning effect to the pressure lever 10 andthe cam lever 26. When the timing cam 24 is rotated in order to have oneof the arcuate recesses 25 face the roller 27, the latter falls into therecess, since the cam lever 26 is clockwise rotated by tensile force ofthe spring 32. Synchronously therewith, the pressure lever 10 is alsoclockwise rotated to allow elongated carrier means to abut against thesilicon rubber surface 15 coated on the periphery of the separatorroller 14. As previously set forth, the elongated carrier means iscomposed of the labels 5 which adhere by means of the adhesive layer 4to the strip 3 and are then charged with static electricity by frictioncaused when the labels are peeled form the strip. The elongated carriermeans may be generally charged with static electricity by manuallypeeling a couple of sheets of the labels until the succeeding labels arepeeled by peeling means shown in FIG. 3. The carrier means in roll formmay also be charged with static electricity by rubbing it with a plasticbar or plate. By charging the labels in such a manner with staticelectricity beforehand, the availability of static electricity makes thepeeling of the labels easy. Supposing that the labels 5 are ready to becharged with static electricity, the leading labels 5 are positioned toabut against the smoothly processed silicon rubber surface 15 by meansof the pressure roll 13. Negative and positive charges are thus inducedto the uppermost and inner layers of the rubber surface 15,respectively. Negative electricity is also induced to the lowermostlayer of the rubber surface 15 in contact with the separator roller 14formed of aluminum. Difference in polarity of induced charges serves toapply attracting action to the other component, which action could beone of the important factors in peeling the labels from the strip 3. Inorder to provide high attracting action derived from static electricity,the surface 15 is preferably made of a material having a higherdielectric constant to increase induced charges. Another factor isadhesion which is applied between the labels 5 and the rubber surface 15when the label surface is pressed against the rubber surface 15 sincethe labels are formed of a thinner and flexible polyester sheet or thelike. Due to these factors, the labels 5 are successively peeled fromthe strip in end to end manner and attracted to the rubber surface 15.Then, the direction in which the carrier means travels is sharply turnedabout a horizontal travel station H defined by the pressure rolls 12, 13thereby facilitating the separation of the labels 5 in succession (FIG.4). The one pressure roll 12 is dimensioned to have a diameter greaterthan that of the other pressure roll 13. This arrangement smooths therunning of the carrier means over the horizontal travel station H andallows the carrier means to be fed out at an angle to the station H sothat the pressure roller 13 functions as a label separation edge.

When the roller 27, received in one of the recesses in the timing cam,is gradually rolled out onto the periphery thereof by rotation of thetiming cam, at which time about two thirds of the leading label 5 ispeeled off, the pressure lever 10 is counterclockwise rotated. As aresult, the pressure rolls 12, 13 do not contact the rubber surface 15to provide a slight gap therebetween (FIG. 5). As two thirds of theleading label 5 has been peeled from the strip and attracted to therubber surface 15, the label 5 may be completely peeled in its entiresection in association with change in the direction of movement of thecarrier means over the pressure roll 13. The next label is not peeled asthe pressure lever 10 is far away from the rubber surface 15. Due to thepresence of the slight gap which is maintained between the rubbersurface 15 and the pressure rolls 12, 13 by the horizontal travelstation H of the carrier means 2 defined by the pressure rollers 12, 13,the remainder of the label 5 to be separated from the strip 3 may bereadily attracted to the rubber surface 15 when not pressured.

The printing roller 23 serves for printing each of the labels on theadhesive layer 4 thus passing over the separator roller. Numerals 33 and34 designate ink supply rollers and ink regulating screws. The printingroller 23 is rotated at surface speeds four times those of the drivegear 22 and each of the labels 5 is printed in letters subsequently topassage thereof over the attracting position. The printed labels 5 arefurther rotatably carried on the separator roller 14 and thereafter comein contact with articles such as ampules supplied by an ampule supplyroller 40 which ampules are received in axial grooves 41 formed therein.This contact allows the labels 5 to be applied to the periphery of theampules. Numeral 43 is a dumper for the ampules and numeral 44 is ascrew shooter. The articles to be labelled may be, of course, boxed,encased or the like.

Another embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter beexplained. As shown in FIG. 6, the elongated carrier means 2, in whichthe labels 5 releasably adhere to the strip 3 in spaced relation to eachother, is advanced to an edge 51 formed at one end of a guide 50. Thedirection of the elongated carrier means 2 is changed as it passes aboutsaid edge, and the tip end of the leading label 5 is moved to besandwiched between a pressure roller 52 and a separator roller 53. Thus,the leading label 5 is peeled form the strip 3. Thus, the successivelyseparated labels 5 are clockwise rotated as viewed in FIG. 6 by havingthe adhesive surfaces thereof facing to the separator roller 53 andadhered thereto. As shown in FIG. 7, the separator roller 53 is providedon the periphery thereof with a corrugation formed of rubber or thelike. This reduces the area of contact between the separator roller 53and the adhesive layer surface 4 of the label 5 to which emulsion-typeglue is applied.

As previously stated, the labels 5 are charged with static electricitywhen peeled from the strip 3. Now, the labels 5 are ready to beattracted by static electricity, and the leading label 5 is positionedto abut against a turnover roller 56 the surface of which is smoothlymachined and coated with silicon rubber 55. At that time, negativecharge is induced to the uppermost and positive charge is induced to theinner layers of the silicon rubber 55. Negative electricity is alsoinduced to the lowermost layer of the rubber 55 in contact with theroller section 57 made of aluminum. Difference in polarity of theinduced charges serves to apply attracting action to the othercomponent, whose action is one of the important factors in readilytransferring the labels 5 from the separator roller 53 to the turnoverroller 56. Another factor is physical adhesion which is applied betweenthe labels 5 and the silicon rubber 55 when the label surface is pressedthereagainst since the labels are formed of a thin and flexiblepolyester sheet or the like. Under the aforementioned action in aseparate or cooperative manner, the turnover roller 56 comes intocontact with the separator roller 53 to have the adhesive layer surface4 of the label 5 on the separator roller 53 directed outwardly aftertransfer of the label to the turnover roller 56. The labels 5transferred to the turnover roller 56 as they engage the latter arecounterclockwise rotated to abut against an endless belt provided withprinting type (not shown), trained about a printing roller therebyprinting on the surface of adhesive layer of the labels. The label 5 ismade transparent to thus render the indications printed on the gluedsurface of the label visible. Numeral 33 designates an ink roller forsupplying ink to the printing roller 23.

The labels 5 printed by the printing section are further rotated tosuccessively abut against ampules 42 which are supplied to a planefacing the turnover roller 56 with one side (longitudinally of theampules) in axial grooves 41 formed on the periphery of an ampule supplyroller 40 and spaced around the extent thereof. By contact of the label5 with the ampule 42, the tip end of the label begins to adhere to theampule 42 in the direction of rotation and simultaneously therewith, theampules are rotated clockwise thereby applying the label to the ampule.In this instance, the label 5 has been attracted by static electricityto the surface of the turnover roller 56 as above-mentioned, but,however, adhesion of the adhesive layer surface 4 of the label to thesurface of the glass ampule is greater than such attracting force toinevitably transfer the label from the turnover roller 56 to the ampule42. Although the embodiment has been described with reference toprinting the adhesive layer surface 4 of the label in application of thelabel 40 onto the ampule, the object of the invention may be attained bydirect printing on the ampules themselves.

This will be explained with reference to FIG. 8.

The ampule supply roller 40 is adapted to be rotated clockwise in thedirection of the arrow. On the other hand, the ampules 42 aresuccessively supplied from the damper 43 to the grooves 41 formed on theperiphery of the supply roller 40. Each of the ampules 42 is carried tothe printing section with a half side thereof received in each of thegrooves. Non-slipping means is preferably provided to prevent theampules from slipping in the grooves. To this end, for example, slits 45may be formed in the grooves 41 to introduce negative pressure toattract the ampules to the groove walls by a predetermined pressure.

For printing on the ampules 42 by contact of printing roller 23therewith, the ampules 42 are rotated in the direction of the arrow bycontact friction and then rest to abut against a turnover roller 56 whenprinting has been completed. As a result, the labels 5 on the turnoverroller 56 are applied to cover the printed surfaces of the ampules 42.When it is desired to further rotate the ampules which have already beenprinted by the printing roller, thereby forcibly applying the labels tothe printed surfaces of the ampules 42, a pressure roller (not shown)may be provided between the turnover roller 56 and the printing roller23 so as to afford rotation upon contact with the ampules and to contactthe surface, other than the printed surface of each of the ampules.However, such attention is not required if the width of the label isequal to the peripheral length of the ampule, and a machine for printingon the ampule, which is widely and generally used as an ampule printer,may be applicable.

Industrial Applicability

According to the present invention, the layer to be printed may beinterposed between the label and the object to be labelled to allow thelabel to protect the printed layer. For this reason, onetime printedindicia are distinctly maintained to make alteration and fabricationimpossible. The present invention is most suitable for applying thelabels to pharmaceuticals which are required to indicate a lot number, aproduction date and effective date in an indelible and nonforgery mannerin accordance with the Drugs, Cosmetics and Medical Instruments Act.

Further, in accordance with the present invention, onetime printedindicia are protected by the lables and are not delible or blurred byfriction with other articles or water and the like so that it issuitable for applying the labels to items such as ampules, bottles andflasks for refrigerants.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for applying labels to articles,comprising: elongated carrier means comprising a strip for supporting aplurality of discontinuous labels which are adapted to releasably adhereto said strip by an adhesive on one surface thereof;supply and take-uprolls for said elongated carrier means; label turnout and separatormeans for separating said labels from said strip intermediate of saidsupply and take-up rolls to charge said labels with static electricityby friction created by peeling said lables from said strip, so that saidlabels are attracted by said static electricity to an electricallycharged roller whose periphery is dielectric, with the adhesive surfacesof said labels turned out, thereby supplying said labels to the nextstation; means for applying said labels to said articles; and meansdisposed between said label turnout and separator means and said labelapplying means for interposing printed indicia between said adhesivesurface of said labels and said articles to be labelled.
 2. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 including a first roller, said label turnout andseparator means including means for transferring said labels from saidstrip to said first roller with the adhesive surfaces of said labelsfacing said first roller, said charged roller being rotatable by contactwith said first roller.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein theperiphery of said first roller is provided with a corrugation. 4.Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicia are printing onthe adhered surfaces of said labels.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein said indicia comprise printing on the surfaces of said articles.6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said separator and turnoutmeans comprise a pressure lever mounted on a pivot shaft for rapidlychanging the direction of travel of said elongated carrier means, saidpressure level being rotatable about its pivot shaft and adapted to haveone of said labels on said carrier means abut against an elasticdielectric surface of said charged roller before label peeling, saidpressure lever being spaced from said dielectric surface at a minimumdistance before completion of said peeling, and said charged rollerbeing adapted to supply said labels to said next station with theadhesive surface turned outwardly.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6,wherein said lever includes a first pressure roll on the upstream sideof said carrier means, and a second pressure roll on the downstream sideof said carrier means.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein saidfirst pressure roll is of substantially greater diameter than saidsecond roll.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first andsecond pressure rolls guide said carrier means in a substantiallyhorizontal run adjacent said charged roller.
 10. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 8, wherein said second pressure roll is of sufficiently lesserdiameter than said first pressure roll so that said carrier means iscarried from said pressure lever at an angle more acute than that atwhich said carrier means is received by said pressure lever. 11.Apparatus for applying labels to articles, comprising: elongated carriermeans comprising a strip for supporting a plurality of discontinuouslabels which are adapted to releasably adhere to said strip by anadhesive on one surface thereof;supply and take-up rolls for saidelongated carrier means; label turnout and separator means forseparating said labels from said strip intermediate of said supply andtake-up rolls, said strip being pre-charged with static electricity forcharging said labels supported thereon, whereby said labels, uponseparation by said label turnout and separator means, are attracted bysaid static electricity to an electrically charged roller whoseperiphery is dielectric, with the adhesive surfaces of said labelsturned out, thereby supplying said labels to the next station; means forapplying said labels to said articles; and means disposed between saidlabel turnout and separator means and said label applying means forinterposing printed indicia between said adhesive surface of said labelsand said articles to be labelled.